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Iraqi refugees start to return back from Saudi Arabia
Refugees. Is that what theyâre calling them now? wink winkThe first group of the Iraqi refugees in Rafhaa camp in the Saudi Arabian desert returned back yesterday to southern Iraq, following 12 years they had spent in exile. A procession of five buses including 244 Iraqis passed yesterday the Kuwaiti- Iraqi borders to Um Qaser accompanied by UN officials and Saudi officials.. Oh itâs ok. Theyâre accompanied by the UN. Iraqi refugee Shahrour Taher ( 38 year old) said "the days were bitter and difficult. As there were mass graves for the Iraqi deaths in Iraq there were also grave masses but for living Iraqis in the camp." He explained that "through 13 years I spent in the camp, the press was prevented from coming to cover news on the conditions of the refugees who were suffering bad conditions until the few past months when the Syrian TV and al-Arabia channels were permitted in." The Iraqi child Ahmad Muhammad ( 7 year old) expressed happiness to return back to Iraq. He said "I am now happy and I can at least see cars, houses and trees. In Rafhaa camp we used to see just the desert." Iâm happy for you too. Plus weâve got a surprise for you when you get there: Uday & Qusay are gone! The UNHCR said that some 3600 Iraqi refugees out of 5233 are still in the camp and will return back home before the end of the year. Posted by: Rafael 2003-08-01 |
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